00Cover_final.qxp_Master Redesign 3/17/15 3:11 PM Page 2 Spring 2015 The Catholic University of America MAGAZINE Destination CUA The Renaissance of South Campus 01TOC.qxp_Master Redesign 3/10/15 12:02 PM Page 1 The Catholic University of America MAGAZINE 16 Photo: Bill Adkins 16 CUA Sweethearts 20 Destination CUA 24 “You Were For some, college romances last a There is a renaissance at CUA Well Loved” lifetime. CUA couples share their and in Brookland thanks to Through his life and through stories. Monroe Street Market. his death, one student left a lasting impression. 01TOC.qxp_Master Redesign 3/10/15 12:02 PM Page 2 Spring 2015, Vol. 28, No. 1 Editor in Chief Victor Nakas Managing Editor Ellen N. Woods Associate Editors Katie Bahr Lisa Carroll Carol Casey Mary McCarthy Hines Catherine Lee Contributors Maria Benedetti Regina McFadden DiLuigi Ariel Germain 20 24 Sarah Messer Art Director Donna Hobson Departments Graphic Designers Lara Fredrickson Kristin Reavey From Nugent Hall ..................................................................................2 Photographers Ed Pfueller Forum......................................................................................................3 Rachael Salamone News@CUA ............................................................................................4 John Garvey President Cardinal Athletics ..................................................................................14 Kyra Lyons Assistant Vice President for Alumni News ........................................................................................28 Alumni Relations and University Advancement Class Notes ............................................................................................32 The Catholic University of America Magazine is distributed three times annually by the Office of Public Affairs. Correspondence should be sent to the magazine, Office of Public Affairs, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064. (ISSN 1086-7473) The Catholic University of America Magazine Online © 2015 by The Catholic University of America. We invite you to go online to view our website at cuamagazine.cua.edu. That’s where you’ll find the digital edition of the magazine, photo galleries, web-only articles, and links to more information. Tell us what you think of the magazine, offer an idea, or comment on an article by sending an email to [email protected] or follow us through the Office of Alumni Relations on Twitter @CUAalumni or Facebook at facebook.com/CUAAlumni. You can call us at 202-319-5600. 02From Nugent Hall.qxp_Master Redesign 3/20/15 10:13 AM Page 2 FROM NUGENT HALL by President John Garvey A mural on the side of Spellman Hall photographed shortly before the demolition. The Importance of Place I vividly remember standing in a field with a small group of University Commitment to place is not always convenient. But it’s important. administrators as the wrecking ball made its first dent in Spellman Hall in When St. Benedict wrote his rule for monastic life in the sixth century, he February 2011. Then, after the old residence halls were reduced to rubble stipulated that anyone seeking to join the community must promise and hauled away, our community watched as brick by brick Monroe Street stability to the community. Stability, he said, provides the workshop in Market was built up. Phase one of the project was completed this fall and which we can practice good works. in this issue of The Catholic University of America Magazine is a four-page Our commitment to this place means accepting the University’s past, photo feature about its development (pages 20–23). present, and future as our own — with all the problems and potentials The magazine also features a news item on the first modest steps toward that come with it. We don’t walk away from the challenges that face our development of West Campus — the more than 40 acres just across campus and our neighborhood. We dedicate ourselves to addressing them. Harewood Road that the University purchased in 2004. I had the So, when we recognized that the University and Brookland communities opportunity to tour the property a month or so after Monroe Street needed better access to shops, housing, restaurants, and the arts, we Market’s grand opening (see page 8). worked with community leaders, city officials, and developers to build Visiting these two very different sites got me thinking about the Monroe Street Market. importance of place at The Catholic University of America. When the When the University purchased the land of West Campus from the American bishops set out to found the University, their first order of Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, we did so not only to business was to find a place for it. Washington was chosen because, in the provide for our long-term expansion but also to protect and preserve the words of the bishops, it was a city “neither Northern, nor Southern, nor integrity of the place in which we are situated. We are in no hurry to Western,” but “common ground upon which we can all meet to establish develop West Campus, even as many deer continue to roam freely through a national institution.” That common ground was a 66-acre parcel of land it. The work we do now, excavating and clearing the land in a sustainable purchased from two family estates. The land itself had a storied past. In manner, is a measured investment in the University’s future in this place. the early 19th century it belonged to Samuel Harrison Smith, a prominent Today instability is the norm. It’s not uncommon for individuals and newspaperman, and received many distinguished visitors, including families to relocate for school or work or better climates. It’s not Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Henry Clay. uncommon for entire businesses to move out of state or overseas. But we When the bishops began to build on the newly acquired property, first miss something with all this movement. Because it takes time to discover Caldwell Hall, then McMahon, they built in stone. These buildings were and appreciate all of the hidden treasures of a place. I still stumble upon meant to last for centuries. They reflected the University’s commitment little corners of our campus or vistas whose beauty I had not fully not just to its mission of education and research, but to doing these things appreciated. in this place. Contrary to popular wisdom, familiarity breeds love. 2 The Catholic University of America Magazine 03Forum.qxp_Master Redesign 3/10/15 12:04 PM Page 3 FORUM Comments from the CUA community As a @CatholicUniv alum it’s great to see the #Brookland neighborhood looking so alive and more like a college town! — Christina Csaszar @wafflesfox Great article on why to study her taking quick and firm control of a fairly “If the number of Catholics in the Latin in a modern world from rambunctious classroom her very first day by House [of Representatives] is now @CatholicUniv writing on the board a long list of possible close to 50-50, that’s an important — @MagistraLall (from a Latin teacher infractions and the discipline that would result development and a very strong sign of the at Medfield High School in Medfield, if we committed them in her class. I don’t extent to which the Catholic vote has become Mass., in response to “Latin in the recall that we gave her any trouble after that! the ‘swing’ vote in American politics; and Modern World,” Summer 2014) Miss Blackwell was only with us that one politically ambitious Catholics can find year, but she made a great impression. avenues for success in either party.” Shortly thereafter she was performing in the — Matthew Green Congrats to @CoachSteveHowes on his 200th national tour of West Side Story here in D.C., associate professor of politics, in an victory tonight (Jan. 8) in a 77-56 win over as described in your excellent article. I article from Catholic News Agency, Goucher. #d3h #DMVHoops @CatholicUniv enjoyed very much reading about the many Jan. 6 — @TomBerry3 successes in her career and hope that she has continued to teach. Her great talent and charisma were as evident in the classroom as “Picking cardinals ‘is the most important thing they were on the stage. a pope does,’ said Chad Pecknold, professor [of — Mary Emerson Slimp theology] at the Catholic University of America B.A. 1989 in Washington. ‘If the pope is the football coach, the cardinals are the star players: They move the ball forward in the life of the church.’” The last CUA magazine (Fall 2014) has that — Wall Street Journal, Jan. 2 great coverage of the School of Music. The inside cover identifies a group from circa 1965. I can do better than that. This was a “No matter what a president Pumped for this new “gently sloping lawn” Cardinalaires troupe that went abroad in is like, he can’t be that stuck #ComingSoon #RIPCurleyCourt #CUA 1967 as a USO troupe to entertain, and the up if he has a dog crawling — @andreofthepeace (On the removal of picture was taken that summer before we left. around the room and on Curley Court trailers. Watch for more Many CUA friends emailed about the your lap,” Mr. Garvey says. information in the Summer 2015 issue). picture and we had a good laugh. “Having a dog on campus is sort of an on- — Ron Frezzo going invitation to engage in a conversation B.M. 1968, M.M. 1982 (below far left) and visit.” Thank you so much for the — University President John Garvey wonderful article on Harolyn quoted in a story on university Blackwell (“Music in the Air,” Fall presidents’ dogs in the Chronicle of 2014). Miss Blackwell was our music teacher Higher Education, Dec. 15. when I was a seventh grader at St. Jane de Chantal School in Bethesda in 1979–1980, To share your thoughts and photos with the year she completed her master’s in music magazine staff, follow Alumni Relations on at CUA. Facebook at facebook.com/CUAAlumni or Miss Blackwell was a terrific teacher with on Twitter @CUAalumni.